From 6am to 10am I paint oil onto the insides of the forms. I hope this is enough to save the 4 by 8s: it's worth $1000 if we can recycle these boards. Then the pump truck arrives and Bruce sets up his monster operation. The photo gives you an idea of what this means. Then the MB pours the 17 cu yards of concrete into the forms and I follow behind him poking a stick up and down in the grey mess. Then I am expected to flatten the concrete, take out all excess from above the level of the grade nails and generally finish the wall. Meanwhile the MB works on the three Porch posts. The concrete is drying fast and I realize that we don't have enough tools. I have to work with the trowel while the MB goes over my work eliminating concrete and flattening it out. Along the way he hammers in anchor bolts for the mud-sill. I can barely keep up with the drying and suddenly the 45 feet of the last wall looks very dry and needs serious scooping to get it down to the level of the grade. DC comes by and brings water which is some help in slowing the solidification. This is not fun and I don't think we'll get it done. The MB has cramp in his right arm, then almost smashes his fingers while hammering in an anchor. Somehow, with water, with my scratching out excess concrete, with the MB putting his considerable weight to good use, we finish. At the end I am trying to flatten the concrete with my bare hands. I would never want to do a footing or a wall without at least two more people, one of whom knows what's going on. It would also help to make sure they all have the right tools for the job... Exhausted after a FULL DAY'S work, we shower, eat a magnificent chicken and fig dish and compare our scarred hands. There'll be cramping in our sleep tonight.
BUT WE NOW HAVE BASEMENT WALL: WE ARE 5 FEET OUT OF THE GROUND.
The party begins when Anna and Frances arrive.
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